Pipe and end attachment

ABSTRACT

An adjustable joint coupling assembly for joining a pipe having an annular corrugation thereabout to an end attachment, such as a gate for controlling the flow of fluid through said pipe, a second pipe in end-to-end relationship, or a cap to stop any fluid flow therethrough, said assembly comprising a plurality of clamping members each having an arm pivotal about one end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said pipe, and means for securing said arm to said pipe and restricting its movement to within said plane. The opposite end of said arm is provided with means for engagement with said end attachment to securely hold same against said pipe, whereby to provide a substantially leak resistant joint.

United States Patent [151 3,694,007 Crow et al. 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54]PIPE AND END ATTACHMENT 3,594,893 7/1971 Kuypers ..285/368 X [72]Inventors: l-larold E. Crow; Joseph Moffa; C. 2 3 gjlnelnburg "285/368 XFrederick Barge, a of Middletown, 1 9 org 61 ..285/337 Ohio 3,029,0954/1962 King et a1. ..285/411 [73] Assignee: Armco Steel Corporation,Primary ExaminerThomas F. Callaghan Middletown, Ohio Attorney-Melville,Strasser, Foster & Hoffman [22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [2]]Appl 9l82l An adjustable joint coupling assembly for joining a pipehaving an annular corrugation thereabout to an [52] US. Cl. ..285/5,138/89, 285/368, end at m s as a gate f r controlling the flow 235 2 2 54 of fluid through said pipe, at second pipe in end-to-end 51 im. Cl..Fl6l 23/00 relationship, or a cap to p y fluid flow 581 Field ofSearch ..285/D1G. 4, 368, 5, 6, 337, therethrough, said assemblycomprising a plurality of 285/DlG 12, 320 412, 411 DIQ 138/89 clampingmembers each having an arm pivotal about one end thereof in a planesubstantially parallel to the [56] References Cited axis of said pipe,and means for securing said arm to said pipe and restricting itsmovement to within said UNITED STATES PATENTS plane. The opposite end ofsaid arm is provided with means for engagement with said end attachmentto 3,453,010 7/1969 Gevvetz et a1. ..285/368 Securely hold Same againstsaid pipe, whereby to 3,549,178 12/1970 Flmk ..285/368 X vide aSubstantially leak resistamjoint 747,412 12/1903 Getz ..285/320 X2,456,744 12/ 1948 Sjoberg ..285/320 X 13 Claims, 8 Drawing FiguresPATENTED EP I97 3 694,007

SHEET 1 [1F 2 I NVENTO RQS m 4/ HAROLD E. CROW JOSEPH MOFFA C FREDERICKBERGE PATENTEU SEP26 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 PIPE AND END ATTACHMENTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a clamping memberand to the assembly utilizing same whereby a pipe having an annularcorrugation thereabout is joined in substantially leak resistantrelationship to an end attachment. Said attachment may comprise a gateor valve, a second pipe in end-to-end relationship, a cap or the like,such that in all cases the fluid flowing through said pipe is controlledand that leakage therefrom is minimized.

While this invention has broad application, it has found particularutility in joining together corrugated steel pipe to a water controlirrigation gate such as a spigot-end water gate. Thus, while theinvention is particularly suitable for the latter application, it is notintended that the disclosure herein be so limited.

Irrigation systems, like many other fields of endeavor utilizing largeand heavy equipment, require maintenance and installation to be effectedin the field. This is particularly true of irrigation systems whereheavy supporting equipment is not always available. For example, a leakresistant assembly is necessary and in fact critical to the properoperation of the system. This means that if leaking should occur,irrigation gates must be replaced or repaired where the installation isfound.

One of the prior art methods for attaching a pipe to the gate seat is todrill or punch holes in the pipe wall and join same by means of bolts orrivets. However, this method generally requires the pipe to be attachedto the gate at the plant, or else special equipment is necessary in thefield to prepare each joint.

Contrary to the above, the present invention provides a system wherebythe pipe can be attached to the end attachment, such as a gate, at theinstallation site with simple hand tools. Complete interchangeability isafforded between like sizes and select assembly is not required.

The present invention satisfies the requirement of ease of installationand maintenance by providing a mechanism for joining together the pipeand gate in a relatively easy but effective manner. It further providesfor the utilization of a variety of pipes, such as annularly corrugated,helically corrugated, or smooth walled, the latter two having beenprovided withat least one annular corrugation on the 'end for use insecuring the irrigation gate.

A further advantage of this invention is the fact that the connectionbetween the pipe and the irrigation gate can be made directly to oneanother without the heretofore requirement of a short pipe or can,"fastened to the casting in the plant min the field, intermediate theirrigation gate and pipe to be joined.

A further advantage to this system lies in the elimination of theequipment in the gate plant normally required for compressing sealantbetween the casting and the pipe. Heretofore such was necessary toinsure a leak-resistant irrigation system.

These and other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in theart after reading these specifications.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the practice of this invention, ajoint coupling assembly is provided for joining together a pipe havingat least one annular corrugation at the end to be joined, to an endattachment. The latter may be an end closure, such as a gate, a valve,or an end cap. It also may be a partial closure such as a filter ordebris guard. The system may be designed such as to substantiallyeliminate any leakage of fluid passing through the joint between saidpipe and said end attachment.

This is accomplished by placing said end attachment in leak resistantrelationship to said pipe and holding same in ;this position by means ofan adjustable joint coupling assembly. Said coupling assembly comprisesa plurality of clamping members composed of an arm pivotal in a planeparallel to the axis of said pipe, and which is provided with means forengaging the said end attachment. The end of said arm opposite the endattachment engaging end is held in pivotal relationship to said pipe bymeans of a rod or cable encircling said pipe and seated in said annularcorrugation.

An effective seal between said pipe and said end attachment isaccomplished by pre-setting said coupling assembly to engage said endattachment, and tightening said encircling rod or cable about said pipe.This action causes a portion of each said clamping member to move alongthe inclined surface of the underlying corrugation, and to exert asubstantially uniform pressure on the resulting joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view,taken along a plane intersecting the axis of the pipe, illustrating afirst embodiment of one clamping member in an operative position, thephantom lines indicating a pre-set condition for said clamping member.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing asecond embodiment of a single clamping member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clamping member bracket, but showinghidden features, to help illustrate the means by which the clampingmembers are joined to the pipe.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view through two pipes in end-to-endrelation showing a variation on a single clamping member of thisinvention.

FIGS. 5a and 5b are top and side views, respectively, of a SPEED NUT,known per se.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a typical, but not limiting, flap type gatesuitable as an end attachment to be clamped to a pipe by the inventionas described herein.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of the end attachmentshown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Turning now to the drawings in moredetail, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipe 10 has been illustrated insection as having a series of annular corrugations 12, 12a l2nthroughout its length. However, it will be recalled from the previousdiscussion that the pipe may tionally, while the pipe has beenillustrated in FIG. 1 without a flanged or rolled end, such may beemployed, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. That is, an end attachmentsuch as a flanged gate can accommodate either style of pipe endconfiguration.

The end attachment 14, which for purposes of illustration may be a gateor valve for irrigation purposes, typically comprises a body portionhaving at least one annular or encircling flange 18 which has beenprovided with means for securing same to the pipe. In addition, theopening 20 through said end attachment may be smaller than the ID. ofsaid pipe so as to provide an abutting shoulder 22 against which thepipe end rests. For convenience, where needed, in assuring a leakresistant joint between the end attachment 14 and the pipe 10, a sealant23 may be added between the pipe end and shoulder 22, or between theouter surface of the pipe and the ID. of the encircling flangelS. Thislatter feature is not novel per se, but does form a part of thecombination disclosed herein. For convenience, each method is shown inFIGS. 1 or 2.

After the end attachment l4 and the pipe 10 are brought into relativeengagement in the general manner of FIG. 1, the clamping assembly isplaced in a pre-set position to secure same. The pre-set position andthe final clamping action will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

The preferred clamping assembly is made up of a plurality of clampingmembers 32 disposed about the outside of the pipe at selected intervalsalong the encircling member, i.e., rod or cable, to be described later.Each of said members comprises an arm 34 pivotal within a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of said pipe. The several members arejoined to one another'by means of a continuous rod 36 or cableencircling the pipe 10 for seating in the corrugation 12a. The rod 36also functions as the pivot point for the arm 34.

To connect arm 34 to the rod 36, a bracket 38 is provided, see FIG. 3.The bracket consists of a first portion 40, which when in the operativeposition lies substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe 10.Said first portion 40 is provided with an opening 42 through which arm34 passes to be secured by fastening means 44. The lower end of portion40 is characterized by an up turned end 46 adapted to be seated incorrugation 12a, and to receive and/or encircle rod 36. It will beobserved that by this position of the rod 36, in relation to the bracket38, it is off-set from the center of the bracket 38. This assists inpermitting the several clamping members to be effectively tightened andto insure substantially uniform pressure against the pipe end by the endattachment 14. That is, the normal or pre-set position of the bracket 38is shown in phantom lines 38 in FIG. 1, i.e., high on the inclinedsurface of the corrugation. As the cable or rod is tightened or contracted about the underlying corrugation, the bracket is caused to movedown the inclined surface 48 toward the lowermost portion of thecorrugation. By this latter action, the clamping members individuallyand in concert exert pressure on the end attachment, 14 to bring sameinto a substantially leak resistant engagement with said pipe.

Returning to a further consideration of the clamping assembly and itsseveral members, it will be observed that in a direction opposite fromsaid upturned end 46,

the portion 40 is provided with one or more backing members 50, whoselower edge 52 is angled so as to lie substantially contiguous with theinclined side 48 of corrugation 12a. This latter contact facilitates theholding action of the clamping member 32 and the movement describedabove. In other words, by providing a bracket such as shown in FIG. 3,there is less likelihood that the clamping member 32 in the finalposition will ride up the surface 48 of the corrugation, therebybreaking the desired seal or connection between the pipe 10 and the endattachment 14.

The clamping members illustrated in the several FIGURES have been shownwith an arm restraining member or relatively thin SPEED NUT 54 threadedonto arm 34". This is optional and may be employed as a simple means topreset the relative position of the arms engaging head to the bracket,or the distance between the end attachment l4 and the bracket 38. Byutilizing this simple expedient, one can insure that in the pre-setcondition, the bracket will occupy a position coinciding with thephantom lines 38' of the several FIGURES. This assures that upon finaltightening, each bracket will be caused to move in the manner indicatedsuch that supplemental pressure will be applied to each.

The preceding discussion thus far covers the two embodiments illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2. The distinctions therebetween lie in the shape and/orengaging mechanism of the arm 34, and in the end configuration of thepipe, a feature discussed above. However, with respect to the former,FIG. 1 shows the arm 34 as characterized by being L-shaped, with the end55 received in opening 56 of flange 18. The holding pressure achieved bytightening means 44 in conjunction with the adjustable feature of thetightened cable or rod, will normally suffice to hold end attachment 14firm against the pipe 10. However, the tip 58 of end 55 may be shaped tolock the arm 34 in opening 56.

A second way to effect the joining together of pipe 10 with endattachment 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Here, the arm 34 consists of aheaded bolt which engages flange l8a by means of opening 56a. Again, thetightening of means 44 at the opposite end of arm 34, along withcontracting the cable or rod 36, will normally provide a sufficientholding action to give a tight and leak resistant joint between the pipe10 and end attachment 14. It should be apparent that in the latterembodiment, the arm 34 may comprise a double threaded member ornon-headed bolt, or that the head may be adjacent to the face of bracketportion 40.

A third and final embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 4.Here, the end attachment comprises a second pipe 10a of substantiallythe same diameter as the first. The clamping action is effected in thesame-way except that the clamping members comprise a pair of brackets38, 38a, each joined to a separate cable or rod in the manner described,and a single arm 34a engaging the two brackets. As with the design ofthe arm in FIG. 2, the arm may comprise a double threaded member, suchas illustrated, or a threaded member with a head or hook at one endthereof.

This third embodiment has the same adjustable features of the previousembodiments, except that there are in efiect two pre-set positions onefor each bracket, before the final position is reached. The phantomlines represent the pre-set positions for the brackets, hence, clampingmembers.

Since, as above, modifications are contemplated, particularly as theyare expected by a skilled artisan after reading these specifications, nolimitation is intended to be imposed herein except as set forth in theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination with a pipe having at least one annular corrugationthereabout and an end'attachment to be joined thereto, a joint couplingassembly adapted to provide a substantially uniform pressure betweensaid pipe and said attachment and comprising a plurality of clampingmembers each having an arm pivotal about one end thereof in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of said pipe, means for securing saidarm to said pipe and restricting its movement to within said plane, saidmeans including a plurality of brackets adapted to seat in saidcorrugation, and an annular member seated in said brackets and capableof being constricted inwardly about said brackets, wherein said bracketsare disposed between said pipe and said annular member, said bracketsbeing held within said corrugation by said annular member and restrictedto a sliding movement thereby in relation to said corrugation, and meansat the opposite end of said arms for engagement with and to securelyhold said end attachment against said pipe.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein one side of each said bracket isattached to said annular member and the opposite side lies contiguouswith at least a portion of the angled surface of the underlyingcorrugation.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said one side of each saidbracket is provided with an upturned channel to receive said annularmember.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said end attachment comprises aclosure for said pipe, said closure being provided with an annularflange to be engaged by said opposite ends of the pivotal arms.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein each said pivotal arm issubstantially L-shaped, and that said engagement is achieved byinserting one leg of each said arm into openings in said flange.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein each said arm is a memberthreaded on at least one end thereof and adapted to be secured to saidend attachment.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein each said threaded member isprovided with an integral head at one end thereof.

8. The combination of claim 1, including means to predetermine thedistance from said opposite end of each said arm to its correspondingbracket.

9. In combination with two pipes having similar diameters and placed inend-to-end relationship, wherein each said pipe is provided with atleast one annular corrugation near said ends, a coupling assemblyadapted to provide a substantially uniform pressure between said pipesand comprising a plurality of clam ping members uniformly spaced aboutthe outside of said pipes, each said clamping member being secured tosaid pipes by a pair of opposed annular members,

s id clam in memb r com iin a ai of brackets w here one br acket of eachs iti 5" i adapted to seaf in a corrugation in a different one of saidpipes, and each said annular member is seated in one bracket of eachsaid pair thereof, wherein said brackets are disposed between one ofsaid pipes and its corresponding annular member and held within saidcorrugation by its annular member and restricted to a sliding movementthereby in relation to said corrugation, and an elongated memberengaging each said pair of brackets whereby to secure said pipes inend-to-end relationship.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein one side of each said bracket isattached to its annular member and the opposite side lies contiguouswith at least a portion of the angled surface of the underlyingcorrugation.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said one side of each saidbracket is provided with an upturned channel to receive its annularmember.

12. The combination of claim 9, wherein each said elongated member is athreaded rod having at least one member threadably engaged therewith.

13. The combination of claim 12, including means on said rod topredetermine the distance between said pair of brackets.

1. In combination with a pipe having at least one annular corrugationthereabout and an end attachment to be joined thereto, a joint couplingassembly adapted to provide a substantially uniform pressure betweensaid pipe and said attachment and comprising a plurality of clampingmembers each having an arm pivotal about one end thereof in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of said pipe, means for securing saidarm to said pipe and restricting its movement to within said plane, saidmeans including a plurality of brackets adapted to seat in saidcorrugation, and an annular member seated in said brackets and capableof being constricted inwardly about said brackets, wherein said bracketsare disposed between said pipe and said annular member, said bracketsbeing held within said corrugation by said annular member and restrictedto a sliding movement thereby in relation to said corrugation, and meansat the opposite end of said arms foR engagement with and to securelyhold said end attachment against said pipe.
 2. The combination of claim1, wherein one side of each said bracket is attached to said annularmember and the opposite side lies contiguous with at least a portion ofthe angled surface of the underlying corrugation.
 3. The combination ofclaim 2, wherein said one side of each said bracket is provided with anupturned channel to receive said annular member.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein said end attachment comprises a closure for said pipe,said closure being provided with an annular flange to be engaged by saidopposite ends of the pivotal arms.
 5. The combination of claim 4,wherein each said pivotal arm is substantially L-shaped, and that saidengagement is achieved by inserting one leg of each said arm intoopenings in said flange.
 6. The combination of claim 1, wherein eachsaid arm is a member threaded on at least one end thereof and adapted tobe secured to said end attachment.
 7. The combination of claim 6,wherein each said threaded member is provided with an integral head atone end thereof.
 8. The combination of claim 1, including means topredetermine the distance from said opposite end of each said arm to itscorresponding bracket.
 9. In combination with two pipes having similardiameters and placed in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said pipeis provided with at least one annular corrugation near said ends, acoupling assembly adapted to provide a substantially uniform pressurebetween said pipes and comprising a plurality of clamping membersuniformly spaced about the outside of said pipes, each said clampingmember being secured to said pipes by a pair of opposed annular members,said clamping member comprising a pair of brackets, where one bracket ofeach said pair is adapted to seat in a corrugation in a different one ofsaid pipes, and each said annular member is seated in one bracket ofeach said pair thereof, wherein said brackets are disposed between oneof said pipes and its corresponding annular member and held within saidcorrugation by its annular member and restricted to a sliding movementthereby in relation to said corrugation, and an elongated memberengaging each said pair of brackets whereby to secure said pipes inend-to-end relationship.
 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein oneside of each said bracket is attached to its annular member and theopposite side lies contiguous with at least a portion of the angledsurface of the underlying corrugation.
 11. The combination of claim 10,wherein said one side of each said bracket is provided with an upturnedchannel to receive its annular member.
 12. The combination of claim 9,wherein each said elongated member is a threaded rod having at least onemember threadably engaged therewith.
 13. The combination of claim 12,including means on said rod to predetermine the distance between saidpair of brackets.